Events of the past six years have led conservative members of the GOP to feel that they have been shut out of the political process. The issues of reducing the size of government, controlling spending, reforming social security, enforcing our immigration laws, controlling our borders, and protecting our country against terrorists have not been satisfactorily dealt with from a conservative perspective. This is, without a doubt, a factor in motivating voters to seek an alternative.
Another factor that leads voters to pursue a third party alternative is when the current leadership fails to provide competent, trustworthy leadership. There is clearly a deep dissatisfaction in our country with the Bush administration and Congressional leadership.
A third factor that makes this an optimum time for a third party to emerge is the fractured state of the GOP. This is a direct result of the party failing to maintain the loyalty of its members in the 2006 election. The loss of both Houses of Congress was devastating to the GOP.
The last factor is the deterioration of the two party system. It is no longer possible to distinguish a Republican agenda from a Democratic agenda. The two have coalesced into a government that is fiscally and morally irrational. Members of both parties are obsessed are getting their share of the taxpayers' pie and getting reelected. All else is secondary, including the security of our country.
Historically third parties have not faired well because they have been denied a level playing field due to the restrictiions on raising money, the inability to reach voters through a well organized party structure, and the disinterest/bias shown by the MSM. However, the internet has leveled the playing field. Grassroots organizations can forge alliances and ideological intensity can be sustained at a fraction of the cost. A well organized party machine is no longer needed to reach voters. And, most importantly, it is not controlled by the MSM!
A reachable goal is to have a third party that speaks for about 10% of all voters or 12 million voters. (By way of comparison, Ross Perot received nearly 20 million votes in 1992.) This is not enough to elect a president but it is enough, at best, to influence the nominating process at the GOP convention and, at the very worst, to give the election to the Democrats by refusing to vote for a moderate GOP candidate.
This will not be easy! It certainly will not be popular. There will be battles to be fought--some will be won, some will be lost. It will take some very brave men and women. It is, however, within the realm of possiblity. We are part of the greatest country in the world, if we can keep it! The alternative is unthinkable!!